Blue Jays vs Rays Prediction, Best Bets & Odds (5/24)

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Toronto Blue Jays vs Tampa Bay Rays Odds

Moneyline

• Toronto Blue Jays +158
• Tampa Bay Rays -188

Over/Under

• Over 8.5 (-108)
• Under 8.5 (-112)

Run Line

• Toronto Blue Jays +1.5 (-130)
• Tampa Bay Rays -1.5 (+108)

Pitching Matchup for Blue Jays vs Rays

• Toronto Blue Jays: LHP Yusei Kikuchi (9 starts, 5-1, 4.08 ERA)
• Tampa Bay Rays: LHP Shane McClanahan (10 starts, 7-0, 2.05 ERA)

Will Super Shane Continue to Shine in St. Pete?

In five home starts, McClanahan has allowed just four runs in 30 innings. In those five starts, he has allowed 20 hits and nine walks and struck out 41, and opponents are hitting just .185 against him.

That home success is a big part of why McClanahan currently tops the AL Cy Young Award odds, a shade ahead of New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole, who allowed five runs in five innings in a no-decision against the Baltimore Orioles last night.

The Blue Jays are 15-10 after a win this season, but it will be quite an achievement to take down McClanahan, as the Rays are 5-0 in his home starts and 9-1 in his ten overall starts this season. Since McClanahan made his MLB debut two years ago, the Rays are 28-13 (.683) in his 41 home starts.

Kikuchi is 3-0 in his five road starts this season, but he goes into this start having allowed eight runs, 12 hits (four homers), and four walks in 8.2 innings in his last two starts.

Last time out, Kikuchi allowed only three hits in 4.2 innings on Friday against the Orioles. But one of the three hits was a three-run homer by Ryan Mountcastle, and with the Blue Jays unable to generate much against Kyle Gibson, Kikuchi took his first loss of the season.

Toronto Blue Jays vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction and Best Bets

Prediction for Blue Jays vs Rays: Rays to win

Best Bets for Blue Jays vs Rays: Rays -1.5 & Rays team total over 4.5 runs

In addition to Kikuchi having some issues in May–he has made it through the fifth inning in only one of four starts this month–the Blue Jays are just 4-7 as a road underdog this season.

So, the outlook isn’t overly promising for Toronto today, especially with McClanahan on the other side. The ML is out of a reasonable range, but the RL is a good option here. Of the Rays’ nine wins in McClanahan’s starts in 2023, seven have come by multiple runs, as have six of their nine wins in games following a loss this season.